Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-03
DEArn OF yppeE WOO

GEoRaETowN, March / Edward, Moot
ten, associate Judge of the superior court
OF this state, died ut his home here a 9. as
O'clock this morning. Judge Wootten
mad been i'll but a short time, and not
until Sunday did his condition awaken
the anxiety of his friends. Yesterday his
condition was very alarming, AND DIR.
Nathan Pratt of Milford, was summoned
to his bedside yesterday fol consultation
with his physician. 1t was apparent last
night that the end was near at hand.
Pneumonia was the cause of death. The
deceased is said to be 81 years of age.
The Hon. Edward Wootten was born
IN Laurel, Sussex county. His father,
Peter u. Wootten, was an entorprisinQ,
pushing merchant, farmer and vessel
owner. To politics he gave some atten.
ton and served in the Legislature OF this
State. Judge Wootten's grandfather c,une
TO this country from England and with
four sons settled on tract of 1000 acres
Of land near Laurel. The deceased was
raised on farm and was schooled at
Laurel Academy, an institution enjoying
at that time great popularity and with
facilities and a curriculum which made it
almost the equal Of our first colleges IN
the grade Of scholarship. When Is years
OF age Judge Wootten entered the offiue
of the late Thomas Cooper, Esq, at
Georgetown, late member of Congress-.
and a prominent practitioner in the
courts of the State. Here he took up the
study OF law, but his preceptor dying
before the pupil had completed his
studies, young Wootten went to the office
of James Rogers, Esq, of New Castl3
and continued his course of reading. In
1880 he was admitted to practice in the
courts of this State, and he at once opened
an Office in Georgetown and entered upon
the practice Of the law. In 1916 he re-
ceiyed the nomination for Congress, by
the unanimous vote of the Democratic
convention, but he declined to accept the
honor, although the proffer made by the
convention was equivalent TO an election.
September 10th, 1913, be was appointed
TO the position of associate Justice
Of the superior court TO Sue
coed Hon. David Hazard, resigned,
which distinguished position he held mp
TO the time Of his death-about 40 years.
A biographer, in writing of the deceased,
says: Judge Wootten has always pos
sessed in an unusual degrees the qualitira.
tons necessary for his responsible posi-
ton, having profound knowledge of the
law, great decision of character, and q
keen and intuitiye sense of justice, With
such assiduity and ability has he devoted
himself to the duties of his high Office
that no decision he has rendered since
his elevation to the bench has ever been
reversed, although he has delivered the
opinions of the court, and charged the
jury in many of the most important
cases which have been tried during his
long term of service, which were reviewed
by the court of appeals" Aside from his
profession he always manifested an active
interest in the welfare of the community,
and was frequently called upon TO adpain-
lister posts of trust and responsibility.
he was for 80 years trustee
of Georgetown Academy and fol
many years yestryman and
senior warden of the P. E. Church. The
l6 years preceding his elevation to the
bench he WIS director Of the Farmers
Bank Of Georgetown. In 1888 the de,
ceased was married TO Mary, daughter o.
Peter Robinson, who died in june 1877
Their only child, Alfred p. Il. Wootten,
was Young man of much promise, .
lawyer by profession and attorney general
of the State, who died in August, 1854,
HIS DEATH A SURPRISE.
The announcement of the death Of
Judge Wootten was received here Tuesday
morning about o'clock, and created
much surprise and genuine regret. Nc
aews had been received here Of the
deceased serious illness and the news Of
his death was therefore entirely unex
peoted. His honor was in thif city
on Wednesday week sitting IL. the
/ Gossam VS.. Diamond State lroI
Company case and was in thu
best of health, and genial and jolly
| with his friends as was his wont. tie re
marked during the recent session Of cour
to some friends that he had never fell
better. He left here after co Mt, OF
Thursday morning last, and, it il said
though not authoritatiyely, that be con
irsated a cold on his homeward JOURNEY
that resulted in pneumoniaan his death
Expressions of regret are heard on al
sides, especially among the lawyers, VIII
we're much attached to him.
A correspondent from Georgetown
writes; Judge Wooiten's fatal illness wa
contracted while coming home from vii
mington last Thursday. He occupied
seat in the car directly behind lady VIII
insisted upon having the window holsted
The cold air rushed in upon Judg
Wootten. He was very i'll ON Frlda,
night, bnt there was no one in the hous
save himself and he had to wait unit
morning before he could send for Dr. Z
II. Richards, his physician. Yesterda
DIR. Nathan Pratt was sent for. Las
evening his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Rude
bush, and granddaughter, Mrs, d. i
Marvel, came down from Milford an
were at his bedside when he died.
A member of the bar who was int
mately associated with the deceased write
as follows in regard to Lis professions
and personal character
Judge Wootten's service on the benc
has been for so long period that hi
practice at the bar had almost passed int
a tradition. Scarcely lawyer in tn
State remains in active practice who ca
have any recollection of IL. His reputs
ton as a lawyer, however, was that OF a
able and conscientious custodian OF IL
interests of his clients, and an eticiel
advocate both before the jury and
ehancery.
In the judgment of the profession h
fitness for the judicial otiice was Of
very high order, He was thorough
J yersed in the common law, apprehende
readily the salient points OF case 2
trial, remembered with great tenacity IL
' course of decisions in the State, an
. when he charged the jury, did so vii
brsyity and force, stating the law apti.
4 and scrupulously abstaining from any Il
. dication Of his opinion upon questions
fact of which the decision wos LETT TO u
jury. ...;o.o 20 la
Q he was very independent, forming p
own opinion and adhering to 1t WI
teuacity, though not with obstinacy, eve
. il he found ii necessary TO STAND aiohe'
In his personal relations, the judge
sipgularly fortunate in the possession
genial spirit and quiet numor, VIM
!. made him very agreeable companl'
u far men of all ages. OF very social d
y position, and having q great FUND
. anecdotes, which he narrated IN me
! entertaining manner, his company y
= much sought by tine younger men az
bar. who arc indebted to him tor mu
. of the traditional knowledge which IN
possess of the bench and the bar OF Z
State during the earlier part OF the Il
N half. century, and his sense OF mum
: often cropped out in the courtroom
q auch manner rs to relieve the strain
judicial proceedings, often at the expel
Of a lawyer engaged in the trial
THE FUNERAL.
GEoRoErowN, March 1.-The funeral
" Judoe Wootten has been arranged to ia
Is place on Thursday afternoon at o'clot
10 fnterment will be made at st. Geort
= chapel, Indian River hundred.